The presence of radon in thermal spas and their occupational implications - a review

Abstract

Radon gas, produced by the decay of radium, is recognized as the most significant naturalsource of human exposure and the leading cause of lung cancer incidence, with the exception of tobacco.Radon can be found in various concentrations in soil, air and in different kinds of water like lakes, springs,wells and groundwater. The presence of radon in thermal and in mineral waters may result in an additionalexposure to natural radiation. In fact, the European Union has identified thermal spas as one theprofessional activities with higher exposure to radon. Several studies have been conducted worldwide tomeasure the concentration of radon in water and in air of thermal spas in order to estimate the exposuredoses both for workers and for users. The results of some of these studies showed that radon concentrationsin indoor air of thermal spas can lead to intense exposure and consequently result in a short-termimpact for users but in a long-term for workers who have longer and continuous exposure periods. Thepurpose of this work was to perform a review on the occupational exposure to radon in thermal spasconsidering the factors that may lead to an increasing exposure in occupational environments and theconsequents evidences on health effects.